Birthday Frosting

​ Waxy. White. Thick. Cheesy. Oily.

What is this that is all over my fresh tiny human?

That fabulous naturally made substance is your squish's birthday frosting or vernix. Sometimes it is all absorbed before baby is brought Earthside and sometimes babe's are lathered in it. And yes, the sticky, white, cheese-like coating covering your precious little one may not look that appealing. Which is why birth center or hospital staff may want to wash baby off right away. Don’t let them! Don't wash that baby! Vernix offers a number of benefits for baby when you leave it on or rub it in. In this blog post, I will be discussing the magical miracle cream that is Vernix.

What is vernix?

A white waxy cheese like substance begins to form on the surface of your baby's skin at about 20 weeks gestation, partially to prevent baby’s skin from getting too waterlogged after marinating in amniotic fluid month after month. Even though it helps protect baby's skin while in utero, the creamy birth butter is made up of about 80% water. There are a ton of beneficial qualities to the vernix. Researchers have identified lipids, amino acids, proteins, cholesterol, antibacterial, and antimicrobial compounds such as ceramides, wax & sterol esters, squalene, triglycerides, phospholipids, and amino acids, asparagine and glutamine. Sixty one percent of these proteins can ONLY be found in vernix. Humans are also the only ones to make it. Pretty rare stuff!

Uses of vernix?

Your baby's birthday frosting acts as antibacterial agent to protect baby inside and outside the womb. It also protects baby during passage through the birth canal and allows baby to pick up good bacteria while leaving the bad bacteria behind. Vernix also helps protect baby from meconium exposure and acts as a insulation by maintaining your baby's body temperature. Infants who are immediately bathed have a significantly higher rate of heat loss. This coating on tiny humans also acts as a lubricant by decreasing friction during birth which lowers infant trauma risk.

Vernix smells just like momma and helps keep baby calm after birth. Bub swallows vernix in the womb. The same proteins found in vernix are the same as those found in breastmilk. This helps the digestive track to be ready to breastfeed on Earthside. Vernix also keeps bub's skin soft and supple. My little guy's skin is still the softest baby skin I have ever felt. Humans have what is called an acid mantle on our skin. This protective barrier develops on a newborn shortly after birth, and helps prevent infections from bacteria we don't want. The vernix is thought to facilitate proper development of the acid mantle, and baby’s skin pH regulates more quickly when it isn’t washed/rubbed off.

What locks moisture into skin better than coconut oil, shea butter, and everything else? Vernix. Seriously. Not only does it provide a waterproofing barrier in utero, but it helps bub’s skin retain moisture better than any lotion or cream you can purchase. In fact, it does such a good job, that scientists are trying to create a synthetic version for preemie infants, burn victims, and those with dry skin.

Why did that baby have it but mine didn't?

When bub is brought Earthside, the vernix may be thick and noticeable or it can be so thin that it is only seen in the folds of the skin. Why the differences though? Babies born via cesarean section have more vernix as it hasn't been rubbed off while passing through the birth canal. Babies born after twenty seven weeks gestation but before full term gestation also retain more vernix. Early preemies, full term, and babies born after 40 weeks have less. I'm sure this is a majority of cases thing because my little came at 40+4 and had a nicely thick frosted back! *shrugs shoulders with arms raised*

Why do nurses rub it off?

Policies. It comes down to policies in the hospital system being outdated but unfortunately still practiced. It was once taught that vernix was a biohazard and needed to be rubbed off to avoid germ exposure. Because of this, you have to be diligent and ask staff to please reduce rubbing of baby so as to preserve the vernix on the skin. If you are unable to, educate your partner or a friend and have them make desires known to staff. Doulas are also great advocates for their clients birthing and postpartum wishes. When your tiny human has his first skin-to-skin moments, this is the perfect time massage it all in. The majority of vernix is absorbed 24 hours post birth but it is not completely absorbed until day 5-6. Make sure to delay all bathing/washing of babe to give best absorption chances. Spit-up and blow outs can easily be wiped away without bothering the vernix much so give your baby time to soak up this truly amazing au naturale miracle cream.

When did you bathe your tiny human? Let us know in the comments below!

We had a wonderful evening at the Mama Mingle. Everyone arrived and we had a meal, then started working on our Vision / Birth Affirmation Boards while other nursed their babies. I heard lots of great conversations about their birth experiences and desires for homebirth. Can't wait till the next Mama Mingle!

We had a great turn out for the 2017 Annual Gathering with past and current families that have used Serene Midwifery Services. It ended up being a rainy day in April so everyone ended up staying inside. New friendships formed and encouragement given from recent homebirth families to the first time homebirth families.

This is one less chemical in your life.

You are here to because you want less chemicals in your life! While growing in my knowledge of living a healthy lifestyle deodorant was one of the first things to change. I was just a teenager when I started using natural brand deodorants. However, I couldn't find one that worked very well for me. So I started making my own several years ago and so far this recipe has been hands down the BEST! I have made homemade laundry detergent that works great and all purpose cleaner using essential oils as the fragrance. My hope is that this will concoct your own healthier household products!

The lights are dim, soft music plays in the back ground. I am surrounded by people I love and who love me. I'll have some good food and go for a walk. My needs are being met by loving hands and kind words. It sounds like a relaxing day, but nope that was a description of me laboring!

Was your experience similarly wonderful, or were you in a setting that you felt like you had to fight for your desires to be met? Did you feel like you didn't get continuity of care? Did you feel like you had a voice? Well you're not alone, there are many families that are looking for a different experience where their voices are heard and respected.

Bonding and Attachment between a Mother and her Newborn...

is crucial by Divine design. When the newborn is laid on the mother's chest, her body temperature begins to regulate so that her baby will stay warm. The contact with her body will also regulate the newborn's respiration and oxygen levels along with reducing crying, and increasing the newborns alertness, because of the ocytocin is being relased. (Phillips, 2013) Oxytocin is referred to as the LOVE hormone sinse it gives the mother the ability to love, hold, and kiss her baby. (Moore, Anderson, Bergman, & Dowswell, 2012) Babies start communicating as soon as they are born, when separated from mother they will cry or manifest with intense activity. They don't have a perception of time like we do, and they see that time away as possibly life threatening, and that is an emotion that we don't want the baby to experience. The mother and baby bonding shouldn't be interrupted if at all possible within the first hour. During this time the baby is going to initiate breastfeeding and skin-to-skin will activate the amygdala via the prefronto-orbital pathway that helps mature the brain structure. (Phillips, 2013) As the baby refines their motor skills on the chest they look at their mother and this ignites the visual part of the brain as well as the sensory region effecting smell and touch. (Hawkins, 2010)

I'm a mother of three home birthed children. I LOVED being pregnant. Sure, I've experienced morning sickness, sciatic pain, heartburn and other common pregnancy discomforts but in spite of these things I loved it. Because of my outlook it was fairly easy for me, mentally ... but it was not so easy on my body. I walked away from each pregnancy with new “beauty marks”, and carrying each differed to some degree because of my fitness level.

And yep, I'm going to encourage you, dear reader, to refrain from throwing in the towel and letting yourself go during pregnancy. I know, believe me, I know, maintaining good health can be challenging even when we're not pregnant, but hear me out. After all, I got some credsince ...

First,let's bring up a few of the reasons you might be reading this post. You have a passion for serving families that are interested in the midwifery model of care and you're thinking about becoming a midwife, or perhaps you're struggling as an apprentice and would like to find out what's helped someone who's been there? I can relate ... becoming a midwife is tough ... so I hope this helps.

I love homebirth - I have loved it from the first time I was exposed to it, which was at the age of ten when I watched the video of a younger cousin being born. I married at eighteen and had my first baby at home at nineteen. There was no question about what I wanted, and my husband was down for whatever. (Maybe I can convince him to write a guest blog post!) Sometime after my wonderful experience I asked my midwife for the opportunity to apprentice, but she wisely declined, noting that I had young children and directing me to become a Doula. This was great advice. I got the feel of what it would be like to be on-call and it made my passion for serving women and babies grow.

Years later that same midwife asked me if I was still interested and this led to the start of my journey in Midwifery. I have since been in three different preceptorships, and from each of them I gained wonderful skills while encountering challenges. These experiences have helped mold me into the midwife I will be, so I want to encourage all the wonderful, zealous, on fire, and optimistic future midwives not to get too overwhelmed. Just chill and let me help you navigate this wild trip.

Archives

Categories

Location

412 S Maple StFortville, IN 46040

What Our Clients Are Saying

April was a strong support with lots of guidance for helping me during labor. It was not an easy labor or delivery, but April was by our side every step of the way, encouraging us, closely monitoring me and Naomi. I am thankful for April and her gentle care as well as her knowledge and wisdom. Her attention to us carried on postpartum with home visits and many phone calls with questions I had regarding both me and Naomi. If I am blessed with another pregnancy in the years ahead, I will call upon April for my care and delivery. SJ